The life and work of St. Paul

THE VOYAGE AND SHIPWRECK. 565
with ft lee shore on which they would inevitably have been dashed to pieces.
At Fair Havens, therefore, they were obliged to put in, and wait for a change
of wind. Time passed, and found them still windbound. It was now getting
towards the close of September. At Fair Havens St. Paul and any Jewish
Christians on board would probably keep the Kippor, or great day of Atone-
ment, 1 the one fast in the Jewish calendar, which this year fell on September
24 The autumnal equinox passed. The Feast of Tabernacles passed, and
perhaps some of the sailors regarded with superstitious terror the partial
eclipse which occurred on that evening. The Jewish season for navigation
was now over, 3 but the Gentiles did not regard the sea as closed until
November 11.* Discussions took place as to whether they should winter
where they were or choose the first favourable chance of pushing on round
Cape Matala to Port Phoenix, which lay only thirty-four miles beyond it.
St. Paul, whose remarkable ascendency had already displayed itself, was
allowed to give his opinion, and he gave it emphatically in favour of staying
where they were. "Sirs," 4 he said, "I perceive that this voyage will certainly
result in violent weather, and much loss not only of the cargo and of the ship,
but even of our lives." His opinion was entitled to great weight, because his many
voyages had made him thoroughly familiar with the winds and dangers of a
sea in which he had thrice been shipwrecked, and had once floated for a night
and a day. The captain, however, and the owner of the vessel gave their
opinion the other way ; and it must be admitted that they had much to urge.
Fair Havens afforded a shelter from the norwester which had so long been
prevalent, but it was entirely unprotected against east winds, and indeed
lay open to most points of the compass. It would, therefore, be a dangerous
haven in which to pass the winter, and it was further unsuitable because the
place itself was a poor one, not quite close even to the town of Laesea, and
offering no means of employment or amusement for the soldiers and sailors.
It would have been a serious matter to spend three or four months in a place
so dreary and desolate, and it seemed worth while, if possible, to get to Port
Phoenix. That town, the modern Lutro, which they could reach in a few
hours' sail, enjoyed the advantage of the only harbour on the south of Crete
which is safe in all weathers, and which was therefore a familiar resort of
Alexandrian corn-ships. Its harbour was closed and protected by a little
island, and was described by those who advocated its claims as "looking
towards Libs and towards Canrus," or, as we should say, towards the southwest
and the north-west. It has greatly puzzled commentators to account
for this expression, seeing that the entrance to the harbour of Lutro (which
is undoubtedly the ancient Phoenix) looks towards the east, and its two
openings at the extremities of its sheltering island look precisely in the
1
It was observed on the tenth of Tisri, which in this year (A.D. 60) fell at tho
autumnal equinox.
Sept. 28. See Lewin, Fasti Sacri, 1899; and UArt de verifier
' See Schoettgen, Hor, Hebr. ad loc.; Plin. H, Jf. ii. 47; Veget. De Be Milit. v. 9.
lea Dates, iv., p. 51.
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"&vSptt, gentlemen," as in ^iv. xix. 25 not as
1J5, ; nvpioi, jn Acts wi. 39,